Door closing and checking device



W. F. MOORE Filed Aug. 1, 19:58

' INVENTOR;

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 19, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIC-E 2,184,264 I noon CLOSING AND CHECKING nEvIon Wallace F. Moore, Fitcliburg, Mass.' I Application August ,1938, Serial nazzzazv 14 Claims. 01. 16-51) The present invention relates to improvements in door closing and checking devices and it particularly relates to improvements in respect .to preventing the seepage or escape of'the checking or dampening liquid from such devices.

The present invention will be illustratively described in connection with door closing and checking devices of the type having a horizontal fluid-containing cylinder, the bores of'which cylinder are formedto receive two piston members which are rigidly connected by means of a rack structure. The central portion of'the cylinder is provided with a vertical upstanding cylindrical sleeve member or shaft housing which receives the substantially vertical shaft, the lower end-of which shaft carries a pinion or gear meshing with the rack forming the connection between the piston elements. Although the present invention will bemustratively described in connection with the device of this construction and character, it is to be understood that the invention has a broader application to any type of device where a liquid is churned or agitated in the lower portion of a 2 casing and a shaft extends upwardly from said casing to a connection to a door or other'element which is to be controlled or checkedby the oper ation of the device. Accordingly also the trans mission of motion from the shaft or spindle to the piston may be by other means such as by a crankarm on the shaft and a connecting rod to the piston and therefore the reference and illustration of a rack and pinion connecticnbetween the piston and shaft is for purposes of exemplifi- 35 cation of my invention and itis not to be limited thereby.

In devices of the character above described it has been found that the relationship of the bearing'for the pinion shaft to the fluid of the piston 40 cylinder, and among other things the agitation of thefiuid resulting from'reciprocation of the pistons and movement of the rack and pinion causes a seepage of liquid, whether such fluid be a combination of glycerine and alcohol or-a mineral oil mixture, up along the vertical pinion shaft, especially when said vertical shaft contains a closely positioned bearing or is provided with bearing clearance of capillary dimensions con- 50 tacting with or substantially dipping into the active liquid in the casing or cylinder of the device. l

Oftena froth or foam is formed by the agitation which, in combination withthecapillary 55 passages formed by the bearing for the s haft, re;

sults in the tendency of the liquid in the casing, because of capillary attraction or other forces, to seep or creep up" to the top of the vertical shaft and then over onto the exterior of the casing with loss of liquid, which affects the efficient damping action of the door checking device; I

It is, therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a door checking and closing device, whichmay be operated over long periods of time and at great'frequency or at relatively infrequent intervals with assurance that the active liquid therein will not be lost by its tendency to seep over onto the exterior of the casing or tend to be trapped outside of the cylinder of the casing.

In accom'plishingthe above objects ithas not been found sufiicient to merely elevate or increase the height of the housing or bearing forthe vertical shaft, norhas it been found sufficient to provide spaced bearings with an intervening air 20 chamber or compressed gaskets on or along the course of the vertical shaft. It isamong the further'objects of the present inventionto provide a leak-proof and seepageproof door closing'and-checking device of the character above described inwhich, without'substantial change in size and dimensions or interior I constructionfit will be possible to assure against seepage of liquid from the'dampening cylinder and outwardly upon the exterior of the casing, thereby avoiding the necessity of frequent servicing of the door closing and checking device and the renewal of the damping fluid thereof.

f In accomplishingthe above objects it has been found most suitable, in the preferred form of my 5 invention, to provide a'two-point bearing structure for the vertical shaft of the door closing and checking device, one of whichwill be substantially at the topof the vertical sleeve or housing en circling the shaft and which will be remote from 40 the liquid level in the casing of the device; The portion of'the upright sleeve or housing between the cylindrical casing receivingthe pistons and said bearing should preferablybe of such a nature as to form an expansion chamber having a substantially greater width and diameter than would permit of capillary passage or seepage of the liquid contained in the casing and by having the entrance portion to said expansion chamberof greater area than the cross sectional area of the expansion chamber.

Even where it may be desirable to place a bearing at or adjacent to the liquid level within the in u b nes i ul a ys remastere I substantially above such liquid level and should be provided with relatively wide passages substantially larger than capillary size and within limits as great as, or of greater area than the crosssectional area of the expansion chamber, and also preferably within limits substantially larger than the average diameter of the bubbles of the froth or foam which tend to form by reason of agitation of the liquid in the horizontal cylinder.

In all cases, whether a bearing is or is not employed at, about or adjacent to the liquid level, the available cross sectional area of the passages or openings through the upstanding spindle or shaft sleeve or housing should be maximum at the portion of the shaft immediately adjacent the upper level of the liquid in the casing and should be of equal cross-sectional area for the major length of said shaft withinsaid upstanding central bearing sleeve, or at least that there be no restraint in the interchange of fluid in the shaft housing and the cylinder for the reciprocating pistons.

The bearing sleeve may likewise be of lesser cross-sectional area or larger within limits that a spring arbor may be mounted on its exterior surface and a compact assembly assured.

Accordingly it is another object of my invention to provide a door check construction in which seepage problems are cured without a radical departure from existing constructions as to operation and limitations of size of the same to take in other necessary factors forming a compact assembly.

Where a three point bearing is employed for the spindle and found desirable, the bearings adjacent the midpoint or adjacent to the liquid level should be so formed as to provide a relatively wide passage, permitting a free interchange of liquid from the expansion chamber to the liquidcontaining chamber, and where roller or ball bearings are employed, the races are correspondingly formed, while with friction or contact bearings, a spider construction is preferably employed which provides relatively large or wide passages from the upper expansion chamber to the liquidcontaining chamber.

Accordingly, it is a further object of my invention to provide. a spindle or shaft housing in an assembly of the character described which includes means permitting a ready interchange of the same for a two-point or three-point bearing suspension of the shaft, by providing said housing with a seat for holding or mounting a replaceable, substantially mid-point bearing assembly, as distinguished from a housing in which the mid-point bearing is integrally'formed with the spindle or shaft housing, whereby a substantial passage between the piston housing or the shaft housing may be effected at will, to take care of operating conditions and to avoid detrimental seepage from the piston cylinder, to take care of operating conditions which may be. encountered otherwise adversely affecting such losses of the dampening liquid. 7

. To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, in which-'- Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the bearing sleeve. and the vertical shaft;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 2-.Z of Figure 1, looking upwardly into the upper bearing sleeve structure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment, using a mid-point bearing in the form of a ball bearing adjacent the liquid level; and

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate still another embodiment, Figure 4 being a fragmentary transverse sectional View showing another embodiment of mid-point mounting for the bearing sleeve and vertical shaft and Figure 5 being a transverse sectional view shown taken upon the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the structure as shown has a main horizontal cylinder A, receiving the active liquid and also receiving the pistons B, having the connecting rack C.

The piston D is mounted upon the main vertical shaft or spindle E and extends upwardly through the upstanding shaft housing or bearing sleeve F.

The operation of the pistons B and the valves included in the casing A (which valves are not shown) is more fully shown and described in the patent to Norton, No. 1,152,339, August 31, 1915.

The casing A is provided with an upstanding cylindrical wall Ill, which may be cast integrally with the casing A, which has an inwardly extending annular fin H threaded, as indicated, at l2. Into this threaded portion l2 there is screwed the nipple 13 of the bearing sleeve F, until the flange l4 abuts the elevated portion or seat 15 on the top of said fin II.

The area within the bearing sleeve F is of maximum cross-sectional area at it inside of the nipple l3 and it decreases in cross-sectional area inside of the upstanding cylindrical element l1 within which there is a more restricted annular space l8. A chamfer lBa may provide a gradual changein the cross-sectional area.

At the top of the space or compartment it there is a fin l9, projecting inwardly from the cylindrical member ll, which forms the upper bearing and a shoulder for receiving the gasket on the remote side thereof. The gasket 20 is compressed by the Washer 2|, screwed inside of the upper tapped portion 22 of the cylindrical member [1.

The fin I9, the gasket 20 and the nut 2| form an upper bearing for the shaft E, which is provided with a lower thrust bearing at 23 in the bottom of the housing or casing A. The upper portion of the shaft E is flattened or keyed, as indicated at 24, and is provided with a threaded portion 25 to enable connection of the shaft to the usual arms or links extending to the door or other device to be checked or controlled in its opening or closing.

The present invention primarily resides in the provision of the expansion chamber formed by the compartments or spaces l6 and [8, said expansion chamber being of maximum cross sectional area at the bottom of the sleeve F and of minimum. area for a much longer distance, as indicated at I8. The spacing or area around the shaft E inside of the nipple l3 and the cylindrical portion ll should always preferably be greater than capillary dimensions and the area of the passages thus provided should always be substantially greater than the maximum diameter of any bubble or bubbles which may be formed by reason of the churning of the fluid in the chamber A by the pistons B, the rack Cand the pinion D. It is also highly desirable that the liquid level, as indicated by the dotted and dash line at 26, be positioned below the compartment N3 of the expansion chamber formed inside of the housing or sleeve F.-

' By the construction shown in Figure "1, without substantial reconstruction of the device and, in fact, with a relative simplification'of-the de vice, assurance is had that any liquid in the form of froth or foam or otherwise which forms within the chamber A or'any splashing which takes place will not result in passage of liquid up along the shaft E and out through the bearing structure l9-20--2l.

The expansion chamber having the lower maximum area portion or compartment l6 and the upper minimum area portion or compartment I8 appears to act as an effective seal and causes immediate return of any liquid in liquid form, in the form of froth or foam or otherwise, which may pass into the lower portion of the sleeve F.

The action of the expansion chamber |6'l8 is such that the gasket 20 might be omitted; the gasket 20 need only be included for the purpose of sealing the unit in transit and preventing loss during transit, thereby further indicating the effectiveness of the seal formed by my construction.

In the alternative construction shown in Figure 3 (similarly functioning parts being indicated by the same numerals and letters as in Figures 1 and 2, however primed), a ball bearing assembly 2'! is provided having the balls 28 and the relatively widely separated rings or races 29 and 30. This ball bearing assembly is inserted in the space corresponding to the compartment l6 shown in Figure 1, which space l6 forms a convenient seat for the assembly 21.

The space 2| between the rings 29 and 30 should be such as to provide a substantially greater cross-sectional area of passage in the lower compartment l6 than in the upper compartment l8, preferably with the balls 28 in position between the outer race 29 and the inner race 30, continuity of passage being accomplished by the chamfered portion 16a.

It will'be noted that the outer race or ring 28 is fitted in a liquid-tight fashion inside of the nipple l3, while the inner race or ring 30 is fitted in the liquid-tight fashion upon the shaft E, with the result that there will be no capillary passages at or adjacent to the liquid level 26',

which would permit any seepage of fluid and at the same time assurance is had there will be a maximum area for interchange of liquid from below to above the bearing 21 and vice versa in the sleeve F'.

In the construction shown in Figures 4 and 5, which represents another embodiment, to a limited degree solving the problems of my objective, a straight bearing is shown at or adjacent to the liquid level 26 (correspondingly operating parts and elements being indicated by the same numerals and letters provided with a superior 2 as in Figures 1 to 3).

In this construction, the bearing 2! is of spider construction, as best shown in Figure 5, and is provided with the relatively wide openings 3| adjacent the nipple l3 so as to provide an area of passage in the compartment I 6 which will be greater than the area of the passage through the compartment I8 both the passages M and H3 forming the expansion chamber. Continuity of passage is provided by the chamfered portion lBa, as already described.

It will also be observed that the upper compartment l8 in Figure 1, l8 in Figure 2 and H3 in Figure 3 is shown of smaller cross-sectional area for the major length of the shaft within the bearing sleeve F and F respectively, than the lower compartment I6, l6,v lfi respectively, that the extension of this available area contributes to solve some of the problems herein emphasized, while retaining the minimum diameter for the exterior diameter of the bearing sleeves for any arbor which. may be mounted upon the casing or bearing sleeve and retained within the upstanding cylindrical wall or housing 10, it being understood that the dimensions ofthe cylindrical wall or housing l and the bearing sleeve and the clearance therebetween, place a limitation upon the convolute spring forming a cooperative member of the door check construction and that another feature of my invention resides in its particular applicability to a door check construction in which the bearing sleeve serves as the means for mounting an exteriorly disposed convolute spring assembly without requiring a reconstruction of these portions of the device, or interfering with the compactness necessary within the limits of installation of such a device.

It is thus apparent without substantial reconstruction and even by a relatively simplified construction, there is provided according to the present invention an improved construction solving problems of seepage and maintaining the assembly leak-proof, for efficient door closing and checking in connection with the dampening liquid.

It will be noted particularly that in connection with the present invention, there is an avoidance of all circulatory systems, as might result from a friction bearing at or partly immersed in the liquid level in the cylinder with an air chamber immediately thereabove provided with relatively small limited area passageways extending'obliquely downwardly and outwardly toward or into the liquid level.

It will also be observed that I have provided a device free from adverse effects of atmospheric changes and physical influences in operation and while I believe that prior problems have been solved by me, the employment of a construction which eliminates capillary orifices between the liquid chamber and shaft housing or by a construction which involves an entrance passage to the expansion chamber larger than the area of the expansion chamber or by a passage through which foam or froth may easily pass backand forth, and/or by the maintenance of bearings above the normal liquid level of liquid in the cylinder of the door check, or one or more or all of these features, it is not intended that this explanation is the controlling principle of my invention, although I do know that serious problems and defects heretofore encountered by other constructions known to me have been effectively solved and overcome by me, and that with my construction, these problems do not exist.

I have thus provided a device which is simple in construction and which may be efficiently maintained in operation for its intended purpose, without loss of the dampening fluid necessary for proper door-checking operation.

It is to be understood that many alternative and varying constructions may be made pursuant to the broad aspects. of the present invention, as above pointed out, and it is intended to cover and include all such alternatives and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I 1. In a door closing or checking device. of the character set forth having a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from the cylinder thereof, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an interior annular expansion chamber with a lower compartment of lesser height and an upper compartment or greater height, both compartments affording continuous passageways of cross-sectional area throughout the same greater than capillary size and also greater than the maximum bubble size resulting from frothing or foaming of the liquid under agitation.

2. In a door closing or checking device of the character set forth having a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from the cylinder thereof, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft forming an exterior seat, cooperating with a cylindrical wall forming a compartment for a ccnvolute spring assembly and having an interior annular expansion chamber with a lower annular compartment and an upper annular compartment continuously connected, the crosssectional areas of both of said compartments throughout the same being maximum within the limits of said'exterior seat for said spring.

3. In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from said cylinder; a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an interior annular expansion chamber and a bearing for the shaft above said expansion chamber, the passage area between the expansion chamber and the liquid level being free from interfering capillary passages tending to retain the liquid in said expansion chamber.

4. In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from said cylinder, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an interior annular expansion chamber with a plurality of continuously connected annular compartments of decreasing available open area toward the top of th shaft.

5. In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, and a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from said cylinder, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an interior annular expansion chamber substantially closed at its upper end by a bearing, the lower end of said sleeve or housing being formed into a substantially continuously open passage and the lowermost end being located above the normal level of liquid in said cylinder.

6. In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, and a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from said cylinder, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an exterior bearing seat for a convolute spring assembly and having an interior annular expansion chamber with a plurality of continuously connected annular compartments. of decreasing available open area toward the top of the shaft, the lowermost compartment being above the level of liquid in said cylinder.

'7..In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, and a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from said cylinder, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft having an exterior seat forming a part of the checking assembly and having an interior annular expansion chamber with a plurality of continuously connected annular compartments of substantial area toward the top of the shaft, the lowermost compartment being above the level of liquid in said cylinder and having an enlarged portion forming a seat for receiving a separate bearing for said shaft.

8. In a door closing or checking device of the type having a liquid-containing cylinder, and a substantially vertical shaft extending upwardly from saidcylinder, a bearing sleeve or housing for said shaft. having an interior annular expansion chamber with a plurality of annular compartments of open area toward the top of the shaft, the lowermost compartments being above the normal level of liquid in said cylinder, and a seat for receiving a substantially mid-point bearing for said shaft comprising a ball bearing assembly for said shaft, formed of concentric ball races.

9. The device of claim 7 in which a bearing is located in said seat and comprises a spider having passage openings of greater cross sectional area than said upper of said compartments.

10. The device of claim 8 in which theopenings between the races of said bearing are of greater cross sectional area than said upper compartments.

11. In a door closing or checking device of the character set forth, a bearing sleeve 01 housing for the rotary shaft or spindle thereof, said sleeve having a bearing adjacent the upper end thereof and a threaded fitting adjacent the lower end thereof, an annular expansion chamber interiorly formed adjacent said upper end, terminating downwardly and axially adjacent the lower end, to provide a substantially continuous entrance passage.

12. A bearing sleeve or housing in accordance with claim 11 inwhich said entrance passage is Y enlarged and is formed with a seat into which a bearing may be fitted.

13. A bearing sleeve or housing in accordance with claim 11 in which said entrance passage is connected to said expansion chamber by continuously formed walls, providing an entrance passage of greater cross sectional area than the expansion chamber.

14. A bearing sleeve or housing in accordance with claim 11 in which the entrance passage is of at least the same cross sectional area as the cross sectional area of said expansion chamber.

WALLACE F. MOORE.

Oil 

